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Starts:
Introduction 0:00
Chapter 9 1:40


full Mandarin original text and English translation:
https://learningwisdomhere.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-art-of-warchapter-9-army-on-march.html


THE ART OF WAR BY SUN TZU

Sun Tzu was a Chinese general, military strategist, tactician, and philosopher in the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China. Sun Tzu is credited as the author of The Art of War, an influential work of military strategy that has affected military thinking. His works focus much more on alternatives to battle, such as stratagem, delay, the use of spies and alternatives to war itself, the making and keeping of alliances, the uses of deceit and a willingness to submit, at least temporarily, to more powerful foes. The name Sun Tzu by which he is best known in the Western World is an honorific which means "Master Sun".

Many business books have applied the lessons taken from the book to office politics and corporate business strategy. The book is also popular among Western business circles citing its utilitarian value regarding management practices. Many entrepreneurs and corporate executives have turned to it for inspiration and advice on how to succeed in competitive business situations. The book has also been applied to the field of education. The Art of War has been the subject of legal books and legal articles on the trial process, including negotiation tactics and trial strategy.

Sunzi said: We come now to the question of encamping the army, and observing signs of the enemy. Pass quickly over mountains, and keep in the neighborhood of valleys. Camp in high places, facing the sun. Do not climb heights in order to fight. So much for mountain warfare. After crossing a river, you should get far away from it. When an invading force crosses a river in its onward march, do not advance to meet it in mid-stream. It will be best to let half the army get across, and then deliver your attack. If you are anxious to fight, you should not go to meet the invader near a river which he has to cross. Moor your craft higher up than the enemy, and facing the sun. Do not move up-stream to meet the enemy. So much for river warfare. In crossing salt-marshes, your sole concern should be to get over them quickly, without any delay. If forced to fight in a salt-marsh, you should have water and grass near you, and get your back to a clump of trees. So much for operations in salt-marches. In dry, level country, take up an easily accessible position with rising ground to your right and on your rear, so that the danger may be in front, and safety lie behind. So much for campaigning in flat country. These are the four useful branches of military knowledge which enabled the Yellow Emperor to vanquish four several sovereigns.

If soldiers are punished before they have grown attached to you, they will not prove submissive; and, unless submissive, then will be practically useless. If, when the soldiers have become attached to you, punishments are not enforced, they will still be useless. Therefore soldiers must be treated in the first instance with humanity, but kept under control by means of iron discipline. This is a certain road to victory. If in training soldiers commands are habitually enforced, the army will be well-disciplined; if not, its discipline will be bad. If a general shows confidence in his men but always insists on his orders being obeyed, the gain will be mutual.

Music :
carloscarty__dizi-flute / freesound.org
matrixxx__the-battle-of-scorpio-and-orion / freesound.org
dramatic-opener-tictac9 / freesound.org

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